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Undine #1
Undine: A Powerful Fantasy Adventure of Wild Magic and a Quest for Truth for Kids
Undine gets along well with her unconventional mother, she adores her baby brother, and she has a devoted kindred spirit in her best friend and next-door neighbor, Trout. It's inconvenient that Trout has a sloppy crush on her, but Undine tries to overlook this. Undine is basically satisfied . . . until strange things begin happening to her.
It starts with an odd feeling, a shadow in the mirror, a whisper only Undine can It's time to come home. And it builds. One hot day, when Undine imagines knitting together a few scattered clouds, she creates a massive thunderstorm.
Who is Undine? Where does her power come from? What is she meant to do? Undine needs answers to these questions, so she sets off in search of a father she'd always believed was dead and a self she's only beginning to discover. But Undine's magic is powerful, wild, and dangerous -- and her feelings as she uncovers the truth are even fiercer. Will Undine find herself or lose herself . . . and everyone she loves?
It starts with an odd feeling, a shadow in the mirror, a whisper only Undine can It's time to come home. And it builds. One hot day, when Undine imagines knitting together a few scattered clouds, she creates a massive thunderstorm.
Who is Undine? Where does her power come from? What is she meant to do? Undine needs answers to these questions, so she sets off in search of a father she'd always believed was dead and a self she's only beginning to discover. But Undine's magic is powerful, wild, and dangerous -- and her feelings as she uncovers the truth are even fiercer. Will Undine find herself or lose herself . . . and everyone she loves?
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2004
3 people are currently reading
455 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
December 10, 2008
This was a fairly strong book to start out. The characters and events were interesting and had me intrigued. I was eager to see how the story would develop and anticipated reading it each day. The book remained strong up until the very end but never delivered on some of its promise and was rather insipid in the final scenes.
Many aspects of the book center around allusions to Shakespeare's Tempest, some subtle, some overt. I fully expected that those strong ties would be explained in a satisfying way. Instead they were not. The author just left them as coincidence, a barely mentioned tendency of one of the characters to name his pets after characters from The Tempest. That ignores the other aspects of the book that mirrored The Tempest.
This is a decent read but extremely frustrating because of how good it COULD have been and wasn't. The basic writing talent is there, but the story does not deliver.
SPOILERS BELOW!
In
3
2
1
Undine never reads The Tempest during the course of the novel, however, the very last line in the book is Undine reciting a quote from the play. That really bothered me considering the character flat-out said she'd never read the play and then suddenly she can quote it.
I was disappointed at how the author portrayed Undine as this irresistable creature - EVERY boy (other than Dan) mentioned by name in the book is in love with her. That smacks of too much wish fulfillment and a tendency to over-glamorozie. I found it annoying.
The author did a good job of capturing teenage angst and how rough those years can be. Then she would lose those threads however. She never really explained Chaos Magic or spent much time on it - it's just this concept that was thrown in and took up a bit of page space. It felt unfinished.
The fight between Undine and her mother was also unrealistic. I can see why Undine reacted as she did, but the things that her mother said to her and how her mother acted were out-of-character with everything else we see and are told about her mother.
I really disliked the final resolution of the book. Undine's father has just tried to suck out her magic. So she forgives him and decides that he isn't a bad father and everything is going to be fine. His power-hunger just disappears. Poof. Magic. That is so completely unrealistic! The change does not feel genuine or warranted on either of their parts. I was also unhappy with how the author shows Trout dying and then *poof* magic, guess what he's not dead! There are no real consequences for anyone in this book. The teenagers behave recklessly as do the parents and there is never, ever any consequence for it. Undine SNUFFED OUT A STAR! Ummm she intrinsically altered the universe. Could we please spend more than a sentence on that? So it's just okay that she might have sent an entire solar system into chaos?
There were so many threads that were started and never picked up, like the Internet chat board stuff with Trout. Altogether those things take a very promising book and kill it - leaving it bland, forgettable and disappointing.
Many aspects of the book center around allusions to Shakespeare's Tempest, some subtle, some overt. I fully expected that those strong ties would be explained in a satisfying way. Instead they were not. The author just left them as coincidence, a barely mentioned tendency of one of the characters to name his pets after characters from The Tempest. That ignores the other aspects of the book that mirrored The Tempest.
This is a decent read but extremely frustrating because of how good it COULD have been and wasn't. The basic writing talent is there, but the story does not deliver.
SPOILERS BELOW!
In
3
2
1
Undine never reads The Tempest during the course of the novel, however, the very last line in the book is Undine reciting a quote from the play. That really bothered me considering the character flat-out said she'd never read the play and then suddenly she can quote it.
I was disappointed at how the author portrayed Undine as this irresistable creature - EVERY boy (other than Dan) mentioned by name in the book is in love with her. That smacks of too much wish fulfillment and a tendency to over-glamorozie. I found it annoying.
The author did a good job of capturing teenage angst and how rough those years can be. Then she would lose those threads however. She never really explained Chaos Magic or spent much time on it - it's just this concept that was thrown in and took up a bit of page space. It felt unfinished.
The fight between Undine and her mother was also unrealistic. I can see why Undine reacted as she did, but the things that her mother said to her and how her mother acted were out-of-character with everything else we see and are told about her mother.
I really disliked the final resolution of the book. Undine's father has just tried to suck out her magic. So she forgives him and decides that he isn't a bad father and everything is going to be fine. His power-hunger just disappears. Poof. Magic. That is so completely unrealistic! The change does not feel genuine or warranted on either of their parts. I was also unhappy with how the author shows Trout dying and then *poof* magic, guess what he's not dead! There are no real consequences for anyone in this book. The teenagers behave recklessly as do the parents and there is never, ever any consequence for it. Undine SNUFFED OUT A STAR! Ummm she intrinsically altered the universe. Could we please spend more than a sentence on that? So it's just okay that she might have sent an entire solar system into chaos?
There were so many threads that were started and never picked up, like the Internet chat board stuff with Trout. Altogether those things take a very promising book and kill it - leaving it bland, forgettable and disappointing.
January 21, 2008
So, I'm in the library, staking out the young adult room, me and a 15 year old IMing someone and a 12 year old reading manga comic books and I'm thinking.. I need a book to get me through the weekend... think... and then I see this and I won't lie.. I had just finished Love, Stargirl and there is a mention of the myth of Ondine and I was interested in finding more out about THAT so I was intrigued when I picked this up and saw a similar plot line. Well, it wasn't really, but the story was good, it centers around a 16 year old named Undine who starts to go through this change that turns out to mean she was born of magic and can pretty much do what she wants, whether it be making a 19 year old boy fall for her or turning a tree into a frog. Talents any 16 year old girl might find valuable, I suppose. The story kept my attention but I felt that it wrapped up a bit too neatly and there were some characters that I think could have been fleshed out more. Not bad for a one night read through though.
March 13, 2023
Interesting idea. I could have done without Undine emerging as boy crazy. Early 2000s seems a little late to be portraying that as "normal development" or whatever, something she can't help. I don't mind that she didn't get with Trout but I don't like the way he was portrayed within that and I am not convinced we needed all of the other two.
Undine's relationship with her little brother is cool as well as with her "aunty" but apart from that the female relationships in the book are somewhat lacking. There is Undine and her dysfunctional relationship with her mum (and do mother's really have to choose between being as boring as Trout's mother or as selfish as Lou? Can't they have their own life without being horrid to their kids?). Trout's mother hates her in a way that seems like sterotypical MIL energy. The friends who notice where she is or care about her are boys. Trout's mother hates Lou as well.
The magic- light, dark thing and the parasiting off someone else's magic is interesting. The resolution of it seems a bit of a cop-out but I guess publishers wouldn't accept anything darker.The way of weaving in elements of Shakespeare's Tempest is great...hopefully stuff like that makes people curious to read it.
Undine's relationship with her little brother is cool as well as with her "aunty" but apart from that the female relationships in the book are somewhat lacking. There is Undine and her dysfunctional relationship with her mum (and do mother's really have to choose between being as boring as Trout's mother or as selfish as Lou? Can't they have their own life without being horrid to their kids?). Trout's mother hates her in a way that seems like sterotypical MIL energy. The friends who notice where she is or care about her are boys. Trout's mother hates Lou as well.
The magic- light, dark thing and the parasiting off someone else's magic is interesting. The resolution of it seems a bit of a cop-out but I guess publishers wouldn't accept anything darker.The way of weaving in elements of Shakespeare's Tempest is great...hopefully stuff like that makes people curious to read it.
January 3, 2009
Undine is a fairly normal teenage girl, but lately things have gotten a little strange for her. She's hearing voices, fighting more with her mother, she keeps dreaming of the ocean and wakes up with fish around her, and she seems to be developing certain powers. In order to find out what's going on with her, she discovers the father she thought was dead is alive and goes to visit him. Some romance, her best friend is in love with her, and tries to help and save her, but she's first intersted in his brother, and then there's a little bit of interest in the brothers' friend. Interesting read.
January 29, 2015
I picked up this book as i always do its an interesting title and it's the first one cool i can read it now and not look for anything else first and was excited to read until i was halfway through and found that there wasn't really a story to this magic in her. I'm sorry o say, I wished that their had been more to her and the explanation of her power I felt like there was so much potential for this story and that this story basically went nowhere unfortunately. It didn't seem as if there was much in the way of a dilemma to be fixed or altered seeing as she didn't really try to hold back. the only "big problem" showed up at the end, oh what do I do now? come on really thats it?
April 2, 2011
I love the way Russon weaves those passionate, and wildly fluctuating feelings of adolescence into the story. Or maybe I should reverse that: she takes a girl who is coming of age and adds some fantasy to it. So enjoyable to read it in a Down Under locale and, beautifully described. Her descriptions of emotion are just spot on--I particularly resonated with the sweetly sticky baby love of Jasper, and the complexity of emotion when you realize that the world is full of shades of gray, and not just black and white.
April 30, 2010
Undine is something really different. I mean just look at her name and her best friend Trout. Shes not only dealing with teenage problems but shes going through some magical one too. There are so many things that have been kept from her she just doesnt know what to believe in anymore but one guestion that we really dont know is...... Is she the Light or is she the Dark....
August 8, 2010
A pleasant read, but highly imitative of Margaret Mahy, most notably The Changeover: A Supernatural Romance.
May 8, 2018
The writing was beautiful, the concept was great, but the obligatory YA love triangle was distracting and annoying. I probably would have given it 5 stars if Undine was 9 or 10 instead of 16 and there was no love triangle. There are plenty of better, less lazy, and more relatable ways to make some tension/fighting/etc. happen between characters, and there are plenty of more emotional and less shallow ways to strain and then reaffirm an important friendship.
I admit this is the first YA book I've read in a long time, and I'm not exactly the target audience anymore. But the whole "16 year old in a love triangle" thing seemed lazy, meaningless, and unrelatable. The rest of the book was great-- the atmosphere, imagery, word choice & writing style (very well-crafted and prettier than I expected), etc. But I really felt like this story belonged to someone younger. It was hard to even picture the characters as teens, which made the love triangle seem even more ridiculous and incongruous with the rest of the book. It's like someone took a perfectly good middle grade book and said "hmm, I want to sell this to teens, let's age up the characters and make them horny for no actual reason".
(Disclaimer: I haven't read the 2nd and 3rd Undine books, but I'm willing to bet the romance or whatever is completely unnecessary to the overall plot).
I admit this is the first YA book I've read in a long time, and I'm not exactly the target audience anymore. But the whole "16 year old in a love triangle" thing seemed lazy, meaningless, and unrelatable. The rest of the book was great-- the atmosphere, imagery, word choice & writing style (very well-crafted and prettier than I expected), etc. But I really felt like this story belonged to someone younger. It was hard to even picture the characters as teens, which made the love triangle seem even more ridiculous and incongruous with the rest of the book. It's like someone took a perfectly good middle grade book and said "hmm, I want to sell this to teens, let's age up the characters and make them horny for no actual reason".
(Disclaimer: I haven't read the 2nd and 3rd Undine books, but I'm willing to bet the romance or whatever is completely unnecessary to the overall plot).
March 26, 2018
FANTASY
Undine, named after a water spirit, starts hearing a voice telling her to come home. In this change, Undine starts asking her mother about her father, who insists that her father died before Undine was born. But the more Undine searches, the more she realizes that there's more going on that what she was told, and she maybe less normal than she thought.
I really liked this book because of how powerful Undine is. At the end, she learns she's a powerful sorceress who can reshape reality. While it may make her a Mary Sue, she does have a powerful flaw, she's reckless and doesn't think about the consequences of her actions. Considering how much power she has, she can easily destroy all of reality and wouldn't realize what she's doing until it's happened. I really enjoyed what this book does.
Undine, named after a water spirit, starts hearing a voice telling her to come home. In this change, Undine starts asking her mother about her father, who insists that her father died before Undine was born. But the more Undine searches, the more she realizes that there's more going on that what she was told, and she maybe less normal than she thought.
I really liked this book because of how powerful Undine is. At the end, she learns she's a powerful sorceress who can reshape reality. While it may make her a Mary Sue, she does have a powerful flaw, she's reckless and doesn't think about the consequences of her actions. Considering how much power she has, she can easily destroy all of reality and wouldn't realize what she's doing until it's happened. I really enjoyed what this book does.
March 8, 2019
I truly enjoyed this book... It was definitely a book I couldn’t put down! I can’t wait to read the second one! This book is about a 16 year old girl who has a guy best friend and at first she didn’t have the same interest in him that he had in her. There is a thrilling plot twist, tragedy, and love triangle. There are many questions to answer in this book that will really keep you interested. There isn’t a good point to stop reading! This book is about magic which makes this novel a fantasy. I believe this book would be hard to understand if you were below 8th grade reading level. The only thing I didn’t like about this book was the random events that didn’t have a true purpose to be in the story. Overall this was an amazing book and I highly recommend reading it.
February 29, 2020
The powers of a teenage girl is something no one can understand at times and that's exactly how Undine, the centerpiece of this story, feels. Not only is she having to juggle classes, but she's also having to assess the life of a normal girl... Friends, possible boyfriends.... And something ELSE. Something that can only be seen as something "unexplained."
A commanding force starts to rule Undine's life, that causes her to go searching for a deeper meaning. There IS a calling that she ends up following... And it's the sea that calls her.... Maybe with... Something a bit MORE?? ;)
If you're looking for something that you won't be able to put down and have your eyes glued to the pages? Look no further. This tale is enchanting and will keep you engaged from cover to cover. ❤😊😊
A commanding force starts to rule Undine's life, that causes her to go searching for a deeper meaning. There IS a calling that she ends up following... And it's the sea that calls her.... Maybe with... Something a bit MORE?? ;)
If you're looking for something that you won't be able to put down and have your eyes glued to the pages? Look no further. This tale is enchanting and will keep you engaged from cover to cover. ❤😊😊
July 15, 2020
This book is exceptional. I am quite jealous. Penni Russon has a wonderful command of language and has created a mesmerising tale of the water. She makes writing seem effortless. Undine is utterly relatable (if not always sensible) and her best friend Trout is also beautifully drawn. I didn't find every aspect of this to be exactly as I would like it, but when the writing is this particular blend of soft and sharp, that doesn't really matter.
July 22, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. Got through it in one visit. A little strange, and it definitely wasn't what I expected (I thought she was a siren). Fast moving and intriguing.
Although I wouldve like some trout undine/romance and was disappointed when undine smooched Richard. Cant wait to see what the next book brings........
Although I wouldve like some trout undine/romance and was disappointed when undine smooched Richard. Cant wait to see what the next book brings........
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2018
It always kept me guessing and creating my own theories as to what would happen next. The small portion of romance added a nice little emotional twist as long as the amazing closeness between Undine and Trout. The drama left me on the edge of my seat through the entire book.
June 22, 2020
Interesting concept. Good character development. The pacing seemed a bit off. Too slow/fast. All around, nice for a first novel. Oh, and I enjoyed the prose and literary connections to The Tempest.
December 22, 2018
A bay with no land
Basically a girl finding out that both her parents have magic(meaning she is even more powerful) and she likes every guy except the guy that loves her for her.
Basically a girl finding out that both her parents have magic(meaning she is even more powerful) and she likes every guy except the guy that loves her for her.
October 5, 2021
Didn't realize it was a YA book. Very good for that genre.
February 24, 2023
I liked the ending, and the twists involved, though Undine is a bit hopeless with all the romantic interests.
January 18, 2024
I know I've read it and I remember enjoying at the time but I cannot for the life of me remember anything about this book. I'll have to reread it.
May 27, 2025
Very sweet and mystical book
April 20, 2014
A completely new perspective on the supernatural, "Undine" has magical twists and turns that will have you entranced right up until the last word.
Summary
"Power. Consumption. Chaos."
In a world where the impossible is possible 'Undine' takes the basic fairytale magic and twists it into something dark, unfathomable and endless.
Join this amazing tale of struggles, discoveries and magic with a girl who will go to extreme lengths to find out who - or what - she is. However, in this search for answers will she find herself or loose herself?
Preferred Character
Personally, I do not gave a preferred character but if I had to choose one I'd pick Trout. As Undine's best friend, he has been there for her steadily throughout her life. The type of love that he has for her is, although messy, true. Even when she 'escaped' to her father, he was still looking out for her. Everyone needs someone like that in their life, a best friend that you can thoroughly depend upon.
Likes and Dislikes
This book is intriguing and had many twists and turns that - like me - will have you hanging onto every word. Despite the magic, 'Undine' is a surprisingly realistic story. Although the ending is left open for the imagination, I do not believe that the author left enough room for a second - and third - book. However I have not read the next books so I am not exactly one to judge.
Rating
4 Stars
Though this is not the type of book that I usually read, I thoroughly enjoyed it. 'Undine' is paced and well planed, yet has many surprises that lead you toward the unexpected. It was a lovely book to read but I'm not that inclined to read the rest of the series.
Recommendation?
I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in fantasy, magic and the unreal. I also recommend this to anyone who enjoys modern and/or twisted fairytales. 'Undine' is based in a real place but the turn of events are fictional.
*Lissa
Summary
"Power. Consumption. Chaos."
In a world where the impossible is possible 'Undine' takes the basic fairytale magic and twists it into something dark, unfathomable and endless.
Join this amazing tale of struggles, discoveries and magic with a girl who will go to extreme lengths to find out who - or what - she is. However, in this search for answers will she find herself or loose herself?
Preferred Character
Personally, I do not gave a preferred character but if I had to choose one I'd pick Trout. As Undine's best friend, he has been there for her steadily throughout her life. The type of love that he has for her is, although messy, true. Even when she 'escaped' to her father, he was still looking out for her. Everyone needs someone like that in their life, a best friend that you can thoroughly depend upon.
Likes and Dislikes
This book is intriguing and had many twists and turns that - like me - will have you hanging onto every word. Despite the magic, 'Undine' is a surprisingly realistic story. Although the ending is left open for the imagination, I do not believe that the author left enough room for a second - and third - book. However I have not read the next books so I am not exactly one to judge.
Rating
4 Stars
Though this is not the type of book that I usually read, I thoroughly enjoyed it. 'Undine' is paced and well planed, yet has many surprises that lead you toward the unexpected. It was a lovely book to read but I'm not that inclined to read the rest of the series.
Recommendation?
I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in fantasy, magic and the unreal. I also recommend this to anyone who enjoys modern and/or twisted fairytales. 'Undine' is based in a real place but the turn of events are fictional.
*Lissa
November 25, 2019
Undine
By Penni Russon
Genre: Fantasy
Sixteen-year-old Undine lives with Louise (Lou), who is an overprotective mother, and her baby brother Jasper. Their next door neighbors are the Montmorencys. Trout is 16, (Trevor) Dan is 18, and the oldest brother Richard is 19. Trout is the closest to Undine.
One day Undine realizes she has a form of power when she accidentally creates a gigantic thunderstorm in her backyard, and she’s is in the middle of it. Luckily Trout is the witness: he sees her from his window and pulls her out. Also Undine has been hearing a voice inside her head--not male, nor female. It repeats these same six words “Undine it’s time to come home…”
Undine knows now it is time to finally break out of her bubble that her mom has kept her in. After her stepfather (Stephan) died her whole family fell apart. Undine questions her power, existence, mother, relationships, and who she really belongs to. She doesn’t know who she is let alone what she is.
She is led to a house where she visits an older man who could possible show her how to use her magic. Can Undine trust him? If she could trust him, will she choose to live with him or stay with Lou and Jasper, or live her life in peace by herself?
Read UNDINE to figure out what the fate she chooses. Is there a right path to take?
The author, Penni Russon is great at making a scene where you feel like you’re in it. Penni Russon puts you in every adventure with Undine. Not only does this book make you want to read it until the very end, it’s an award-winning book in Australia. Penni Russon started her writing career as a poet, and in some parts of the book her word choices feel like a dash of poetry. I think this book is great for young adults, and older people too.
By Penni Russon
Genre: Fantasy
Sixteen-year-old Undine lives with Louise (Lou), who is an overprotective mother, and her baby brother Jasper. Their next door neighbors are the Montmorencys. Trout is 16, (Trevor) Dan is 18, and the oldest brother Richard is 19. Trout is the closest to Undine.
One day Undine realizes she has a form of power when she accidentally creates a gigantic thunderstorm in her backyard, and she’s is in the middle of it. Luckily Trout is the witness: he sees her from his window and pulls her out. Also Undine has been hearing a voice inside her head--not male, nor female. It repeats these same six words “Undine it’s time to come home…”
Undine knows now it is time to finally break out of her bubble that her mom has kept her in. After her stepfather (Stephan) died her whole family fell apart. Undine questions her power, existence, mother, relationships, and who she really belongs to. She doesn’t know who she is let alone what she is.
She is led to a house where she visits an older man who could possible show her how to use her magic. Can Undine trust him? If she could trust him, will she choose to live with him or stay with Lou and Jasper, or live her life in peace by herself?
Read UNDINE to figure out what the fate she chooses. Is there a right path to take?
The author, Penni Russon is great at making a scene where you feel like you’re in it. Penni Russon puts you in every adventure with Undine. Not only does this book make you want to read it until the very end, it’s an award-winning book in Australia. Penni Russon started her writing career as a poet, and in some parts of the book her word choices feel like a dash of poetry. I think this book is great for young adults, and older people too.
January 27, 2011
‘Undine’ by Penni Russon is the first book in a trilogy about a mythically and aptly named adolescent girl struggling to find out the truth about her father and ultimately about herself and the increasingly volatile power she possesses.
It’s a story so beautifully and poetically written that I savoured every paragraph; never skimmed or rushed through any of it. Penni is a gifted writer with a flair for poetry and beautiful prose full of symbolism, fluidity and a gentle dynamism. She cleverly crafts a complex story of relationship interplay, science, literature and longing that had me engrossed and thoroughly enjoying this voyage of discovery the characters led me on.
All the themes of relationships, family, adolescence, rites of passage and power are delivered subtly yet powerfully to introduce the story of a girl on a journey of discovery to find her absent father and the powerful bond they share.
With names like Undine, Prospero, Ariel & Trout you know you’re in for a mythical, oceanic story full of surprises as she struggles to control nature, master her newfound power and understand her feelings for her best friend, Trout’s older brother and not get caught up in a love triangle.
I cannot wait to start the next book ‘Breathe’ tomorrow. Join me on this journey by picking up a copy too. You won’t be sorry.
It’s a story so beautifully and poetically written that I savoured every paragraph; never skimmed or rushed through any of it. Penni is a gifted writer with a flair for poetry and beautiful prose full of symbolism, fluidity and a gentle dynamism. She cleverly crafts a complex story of relationship interplay, science, literature and longing that had me engrossed and thoroughly enjoying this voyage of discovery the characters led me on.
All the themes of relationships, family, adolescence, rites of passage and power are delivered subtly yet powerfully to introduce the story of a girl on a journey of discovery to find her absent father and the powerful bond they share.
With names like Undine, Prospero, Ariel & Trout you know you’re in for a mythical, oceanic story full of surprises as she struggles to control nature, master her newfound power and understand her feelings for her best friend, Trout’s older brother and not get caught up in a love triangle.
I cannot wait to start the next book ‘Breathe’ tomorrow. Join me on this journey by picking up a copy too. You won’t be sorry.
January 27, 2012
I just love the way Russon writes. For the first half in particular, the rhythm was electric, was corporeal - I found myself somehow breathing along with the book, and whenever I put it down for a moment, I felt a physical reorganisation, a hitch as my breathing rearranged itself.
I was put off for a little while by the sexualised compulsion scene [magically-coerced kissing, no rape, but this is because the characters were interrupted, not because they stopped willingly. The compulsion is semi-inadvertent, as this magic is entirely new to the character involved]. I think my difficulty was because of being in the head of the character perpetrating the compulsion. However, it was treated as horrible within the narrative, though I detected a certain ambivalence at first - I'm assuming this was the ambivalence of the POV character coming through. This character grew to take a look at herself and at the problematic nature of that behaviour, and to learn that it was essential to control her magic to avoid harming others.
As some other reviews opine, it may have wrapped it a little too quickly and neatly; but overall the book was a glorious allegory for the feelings and changes of adolescence, and a delightful fantasy tale in its own right. I'm looking forward to reading the next book, Breathe.
I was put off for a little while by the sexualised compulsion scene [magically-coerced kissing, no rape, but this is because the characters were interrupted, not because they stopped willingly. The compulsion is semi-inadvertent, as this magic is entirely new to the character involved]. I think my difficulty was because of being in the head of the character perpetrating the compulsion. However, it was treated as horrible within the narrative, though I detected a certain ambivalence at first - I'm assuming this was the ambivalence of the POV character coming through. This character grew to take a look at herself and at the problematic nature of that behaviour, and to learn that it was essential to control her magic to avoid harming others.
As some other reviews opine, it may have wrapped it a little too quickly and neatly; but overall the book was a glorious allegory for the feelings and changes of adolescence, and a delightful fantasy tale in its own right. I'm looking forward to reading the next book, Breathe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2010
Undine was having some trouble with her mother. She haven't called her mother "mom" instead she called her "Lou". She never really know who her father is. Her mother Lou have always said that her father died because of a storm or some sort. When Undine ask about her father when she talk or argue with Lou, Lou would always try to end the conversation as quickly as she can. Lou would either go somewhere or go to her own bedroom, after that sort of conversation. She would normally feel that inside her head was like a whole new dimension because there is the tides and storms inside of her. One time when she is felt really confused and frustrate and clouds came out of her and started to formed storms and started to spread throughout the whole town and it stopped when her friend Trout came and called her named and calmed her. After that she have a arguement with Lou. She then thinks that she no longer belong anywhere. I think that she is just going through a hard time and she just wanted to know who her father is and what he looks like.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2008
Undine is a leggy teen girl living in Tasmania with her single mother. Her best friend, Trout, has a crush on her, to which she is oblivious. Everything changes one Tuesday, when she awakens with an ominous feeling, and hears a voice in her head calling her home.
Drawn by the voice, Undine follows a trail of magical clues, many referring to Shakespeare’s The Tempest, to a cove by the sea, while awakening to her powers to rouse both storms and male interest. She discovers her father is still alive, and that she has a legacy of powers her mother never told her about
The symbolism of Undine finding her powers at the same time she becomes sexually aware was a little heavy-handed. But I loved the mystery, the Tasmanian setting, the fast pace, and the complex characters. I couldn’t put it down, and I hope there’s a sequel.
Drawn by the voice, Undine follows a trail of magical clues, many referring to Shakespeare’s The Tempest, to a cove by the sea, while awakening to her powers to rouse both storms and male interest. She discovers her father is still alive, and that she has a legacy of powers her mother never told her about
The symbolism of Undine finding her powers at the same time she becomes sexually aware was a little heavy-handed. But I loved the mystery, the Tasmanian setting, the fast pace, and the complex characters. I couldn’t put it down, and I hope there’s a sequel.
January 5, 2010
I AM COUNTING THIS AS 2 BOOKS
A normal girl named Undine has a very basic life until strange things begin to happen to her. She hears a whisper that only she can hear and her power inside of her creates a massive thunderstorm. She does not know how to control her powers so she sets out to find who she thinks is the missing link, her father.
This took a long time to get into. It started very boring but got better as it went along. Once the end had reached I was hooked and ended up liking it. It had a very intersesting story and good characters which made me not turn back.
I reccomend this book to anyone looking for a science fiction. Remember if you do pick it up it is around 300 pages and somewhat hard to read
A normal girl named Undine has a very basic life until strange things begin to happen to her. She hears a whisper that only she can hear and her power inside of her creates a massive thunderstorm. She does not know how to control her powers so she sets out to find who she thinks is the missing link, her father.
This took a long time to get into. It started very boring but got better as it went along. Once the end had reached I was hooked and ended up liking it. It had a very intersesting story and good characters which made me not turn back.
I reccomend this book to anyone looking for a science fiction. Remember if you do pick it up it is around 300 pages and somewhat hard to read
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May 20, 2013This book would have been so much better without the magic! I know the magic theme was intended as a metaphor for adolescent femininity and suchlike - but the book would have felt so much more solid and subtle without it! Language that had felt poetic and literary only paragraphs before became unwieldy and naive in the service of a plotline that was about on the level of an ad for the Mind Body Spirit festival. And I think the 'finding her estranged father whilst dealing with boy problems' narrative was meaty enough alone - in fact, severely weakened by the awkwardly handled addition of 'teenage girl discovers her inherent magical mysterious powers' plot.
Pretty well written; some very decently realised characters, all of whom could have been better utilised; all in all, not bad.
Pretty well written; some very decently realised characters, all of whom could have been better utilised; all in all, not bad.
June 30, 2013
A quick and easy read. Not a masterpiece, but entertaining nonetheless. It was pretty cheesy at times, though.
Amid Shakespeare references galore, a 16-year-old girl discovers that she is in possession of some very powerful magic. She struggles to come to terms with the magic inside her as it threatens to take control. She also discovers that her mother has been hiding some very big secrets from her for the past 16 years. Meanwhile, the reader is also given glimpses into the perspective of a boy named Trout, Undine's best friend who also happens to e madly in love with her. Trout's unrequited love threatens to ruin their friendship, until Trout experiences a few moments of excessively narrated character growth.
Amid Shakespeare references galore, a 16-year-old girl discovers that she is in possession of some very powerful magic. She struggles to come to terms with the magic inside her as it threatens to take control. She also discovers that her mother has been hiding some very big secrets from her for the past 16 years. Meanwhile, the reader is also given glimpses into the perspective of a boy named Trout, Undine's best friend who also happens to e madly in love with her. Trout's unrequited love threatens to ruin their friendship, until Trout experiences a few moments of excessively narrated character growth.
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